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All posts for the month May, 2015

Nancy and I started ministering under the Anda Leadership banner about four years ago. This organization provides us with structural covering under which we train and consult internationally. From the beginning, we determined to remain open and prayerful. We are committed to listen for the Lord’s direction about where we should go and what we should do. Specifically, we committed ourselves to prayerfully respond to every opportunity offered to us. This availability has resulted in a steady stream of invitations, some international and others from US organizations. A couple organizations spent large amounts of money recruiting and interviewing us for full-time positions only to conclude that we were not exactly what they wanted.

Even though our work with Anda Leadership provides flexibility regarding where we are based, we did not feel free to move from our house in Spokane. Spokane is not the most logical place for us to be based, but it doesn’t make sense to move somewhere only to find that shortly afterwards we would need to move again in response to God’ leading. Last winter, even with this ambiguity, we decided that we should relocate to Pennsylvania.

During the past couple of weeks four organizations have contacted me regarding positions they and I feel could be a good match. I am in ongoing conversations with all of them. Two of these opportunities require the person to be based at their organizational headquarters which are not in Washington or Pennsylvania. The other two provide flexibility and would accommodate us living in Pennsylvania.

So, what if God leads us somewhere else before we complete our “chapel-house” project? What if God leads us to relocate shortly after we move into that residence? Nancy and I are aware of these possibilities. Nevertheless, our desire and intention is to continue to trust God and to be flexible and available regardless of where he leads and how he directs.

We need a variance to build a garage in the spot where Nancy is standing.

The first text message I received was, “The previous owner is here…already had an objection.”

“Oh no!” I thought. This is a twist we did not anticipate. My friend, Deb, was at the Elizabeth Township Zoning Hearing Board meeting earlier this evening. My lawyer was presenting our case for a variance that would allow us to build the house and garage according to our plans. Throughout the meeting Deb informed me of the meeting’s progress through text messages.

We thought we were prepared for anything, but we did not anticipate the previous owner would object to our plans.

I breathed a little easier when I received the next message a few minutes later that said, “Lawyer doing great.”

After a few more messages about the meeting’s progress I received another surprising message, “They asked previous owner to leave. He kept interjecting.”

“What?” I thought. “What is going on?”

The next message said, “He stomped out…then sat in his car and blew the horn for several minutes.”

Then, “Lawyer for the zoning board apologized to your lawyer…said it was highly unusual!!! LOL”

I’ll say. Who would expect that?

The previous owner was offended that my lawyer referred to the church building as abandoned. The congregation had discontinued use of the building about 20 years ago. However, the previous owner faithfully went to the building each Sunday to pray. In his mind and according to his experience, the building was not abandoned. He felt it was his duty to protect the building from unfair characterizations. On the other hand, my lawyer’s strategy was to demonstrate that the building is derelict and I was going to rescue it. This difference brought them into conflict.

After the meeting, I received a text from the builder, Paul, who was also present. His assessment was, “The meeting was exciting. Your neighbor gentleman (the previous owner) is very passionate!”

I explained to Paul, “He has invested his life in that place, especially after loosing a couple loved ones in a terrible fire.”

Paul responded, “Wow, many times people’s responses are attached to something much deeper. You will have an opportunity to minister to him as a neighbor.”

I responded, “I hope so.”

In the end, the disturbance might have helped our cause. With very little discussion the Board approved our request for a variance. It might have been that everyone was too shocked to offer any objections!

I had four qualified candidates. Why did I choose Charles for the part-time summer position at Berea I needed to fill? The answer is in the letter I wrote to the four candidates…

Dear Ashley, Trevor, Charles, and Reagan,

Please receive my heart-felt appreciation for being available and expressing your interest in this summer job. I believe each of you is qualified for the position and I don’t feel I could go wrong if I hired any one of you. I would like to hire you all. I have much experience hiring people and when I find good candidates for a position, I delight in hiring them!

Nevertheless, I only need one person, so I must pass on three of you.

I have decided to hire Charles.

(Charles, I look forward to working with you and getting to know you better. We will get started as soon as most of the residents leave.)

As I reflect on my decision, I realize there is a lesson here for me and maybe for you if you are interested. Why did I settle on Charles? Simply, because he expressed the most enthusiasm for the position. Even though four people were qualified, Charles got hired because he invested that extra bit of energy to enthusiastically sell himself. I have failed to do that many times in my life and have probably missed some opportunities.

I trust the rest of you will find the employment you need for the summer. You are wonderful people!

Yours,
Greg

Upon further reflection, I recognize that expressing my emotions can be difficult. I might be passionate about something, but unless you look closely, you might not notice. Therefore, I am particularly drawn to people who enthusiastic pursue their cause. Charles did that. I also regularly see this characteristic in Nancy, my wife, and in Jesse, my son. In them I have good role models!

“This place has potential,” was one of the comments I heard yesterday as I showed “our church” to my mother, father, and brother for the first time. My mother had generously lent me her car during the past several weeks while I have been in Pennsylvania. I returned the car to her Thursday and then the three of them drove me back to Lititz which gave them their first chance to see the property that Nancy and I hope to transform into our home. I also heard, “This is going to be a lot of work!” as we walked around the property.

It was fun for me to show them around. I’m sure my parents were reminded of the potential they once saw and the work they invested to build the home they have lived in for the past 45 years. I probably got my vision to reclaim cast-off materials from them. Their house started as several dilapidated barns. My dad, with me at his side, tore down the barns, clean-up the boards, (I did a lot of the nail removal.), and transformed the lumber into their beautiful and unique home. Nancy and I will be delighted if our “new” home serves us half as well as my parents’ home has served them.

I have continued to nudge along the permitting process. I think everything for the driveway permit is in order. A designer is working on the septic system and expects to be done in a week or so. Our request for a zoning variance will come before the Zoning Review Board May 13. If and when we receive these permits, we will apply for a building permit. Then we can really get to work and release this place’s potential!